4:34PM, Jul 03, 2009
The Simpsons, the world's longest running comedy, is every bit a cultural institution. Intelligent writing combined with subversive humour has seen the show's popularity go from strength to strength. For twenty years it has tackled all issues and stayed at the cutting edge of comedy.
In 2007,The Simpsons celebrated reaching its unprecedented 400th episode and the release the much anticipated “The Simpsons Movie”. The film went on to become an international smash hit generating $525 million globally.
The critically acclaimed series has been bestowed with numerous honours. To date it has won 23 Emmy’s, 23 Annie’s and also holds the Guinness World Record for Longest-Running Primetime Animated Series and Most Guest Stars Featured in a Television Series. The true extent of the Simpsons' impact on pop culture can be viewed in the inclusion of Homer Simpson’s catchphrase, “D’oh” in the Oxford English Dictionary.
The Simpsons reside in Springfield. Homer works as a safety inspector at the local nuclear power plane; Marge attempts to keep peace in the house; Bart is the mischievous 10-year-old hellraiser; 8 year old Lisa is exceptionally intelligent and the ethically conscious member of the family whilst baby Maggie conveys emotion through sucks on her ever-present dummy. Viewers have also come to know and love the other inhabitants of Springfield, from bumbling police officer Chief Wiggum through to to ultimate-geek Comic Book Guy.
Giving voice to the people of Springfield are: Dan Castellaneta as Homer and Barney; Julie Kavner as the voice of Marge and her irrepressible twin sisters Patty and Selma; Nancy Cartwright as Bart, Nelson and Ralph Wiggum; Yeardley Smith as Lisa; Hank Azaria as Moe, Apu and Chief Wiggum; and Harry Shearer as Mr Burns, Ned Flanders and Principle Skinner.
The Simpsons, created by Matt Groening, first hit our screens way back in 1987 originally as a short featured on the Tracey Ullman show. Such was there popularity that the Simpsons had soon had its first feature length show, a 1989 Christmas special, and then on January 14th 1990 the first regular series began. And the rest, as we all know, is history!
